He was probably the best goal scorer available, probably shouldn't have slid that much. I attribute the slide to the incredibly low performance floor. Being that small with a short reach makes him all but gauranteed to be a one dimensional player for quite a few years. There's no question about the risk. Since the Hawks don't have high skill scorers in the system, it seemed to make sense that they picked him. Given what the Hawks have done from a construction standpoint, I don't mind them taking prospects that will boom or bust quickly. They're not building, so the last kind of prospect I want is a typical 2nd rounder that loiters in the system for years with a ceiling as a 10-13fwd or situational bottom pair dmen. The Belgian goalie was weird to me with their 3rd, but that's also why I thought they weren't ready for the draft with their 2 picks in between. I have a feeling their 45th or 50th pick would have been available to trade up for later. I was hoping they would have used the picks to bolster the roster or to load up for the 17 draft.
Yeah, the Hawks have defied conventional org. development by consistently being in SC contention - while paying the price for that at the deadline in picks & prospects. And, at the same time maintaining a top-10 pipeline. That's very hard to do, and it's one of the main reasons why I like the Hawks. My team has been, uhmm, more focused on building than on W's. You make a very concise & cogent point here.
After that Seabrook contract, and the future Panarin one, I really think they're just going to try to move Seabrook or cash out everything they can for anther title. They don't want to be what Detroit has become, I think they would rather be like what ANA was a few years ago where they were positioned to turnaround in a year or two after the window was closed.
The question I have for McDonough and Wirtz is whether or not they want to be a championship team or a team that can sell a playoff appearance (and all the bs about "anything can happen once you're in") to sponsors and Season Tick Holders.
1.5 + 750K bonus for Soupy. Campbell is back. That's a big win. Still some work to do, they need another LW or at least another versatile forward.
I guess it's me, because no one else seems surprised, but I am shocked at the value of this contract. Brian may not be the player he was when he signed with CHI the first time, but I think he's as good as anyone getting $4-5MM. I expected the one year deal because he will still be young enough to sign another deal in a year, and this gets everyone past the expansion draft. Still, am I wrong in thinking he left $2-3MM on the table because he wanted to go back to his wife's home?
Projecting the lineup today, that leaves Chicago with about 500K of space and a lot of shuffling to do. I think the contract was the max Bowman was willing to spend today. If they had 3 million, I think they would have spent it. He still lives here (chicago area). The fam is dug in to the west suburbs, he just wants to go home after work. Hawks fans are pretty pumped. The voices are telling me to not drink the koolaid. There's a downside to going home everyday after not going home everyday. Kids, especially toddlers, can beat the dogsnot out of adults. Regardless, I think the first 4 months go smoother than anyother UFA they could have landed. Report out was FLA offering him 5 million. Had other much bigger offers too, believe Dallas was one. No word on those amounts.
http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-blackhawks/blackhawks-among-teams-contention-land-jimmy-vesey If they could swing this deal like the stole the bread man look out ......
If they do land him, there's little doubt that it was largely because they moved Teravainen out. It would make much more sense to me if the reason he was moved was to attract Vesey. Undoubtedly, his departure helped land Schmaltz. With Shaw gone, along with Teravainen, they have to pp slots open and an additional pk slot open. Playing on a team looking to contend, with Kane or Toews, should be attractive. Reasons to be optimistic: TOI and quality TOI (gauranteed shot to play on Toews or Kane's line) Playing for a team looking to contend Minimal competition for a top 6 slot The ability of former Hawks to land huge paydays Bowman's history of giving players that didn't work out a soft landing Bowman isn't shy about handing out incentives Reasons NOT to be optimistic: He'll be traded in 2 years (most likely) Geography Family ties Roster familiarity
Chris Kuc @ChrisKuc Sep 25 Duncan Keith practiced today and his knee felt well enough that he asked to participate in the second practice. He didn't. I HEARD THIS MORNING THAT DUNKS WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY PRE SEASON AT ALL , WHICH IS OK AS LONG AS IT GET'S HIM CLOSER TO 100% FOR FIRST GAME
Slow start to say the least , long way to go , big names need to get their chit together , hope the rooks keep making progress .... tho history tells us that the FO and Q are not very patience when it comes to that.
I'm attending the rematch of the Hawks first SC in the modern era. I am expecting a repeat - beat Philadelphia! I am so fucking happy I could just shit! My first game of the season. Go Hawks! Go Sabres! Fuck the hockey team from Philadelphia.
Flyers brought their Swiss cheese with them. Hawks jump out to a 4-0 lead. Give up 3 and then get serious and pump in 3 more. Total domination. Provorov looked helpless out there. Nice imaginary line he tripped over for goal 2. goal #5? nah, won't speak of that. Congrats to M. Hossa for goal #500! Quite an accomplishment and now in the 500 club-congrats.
I don't think Sabres Nation like one of their own jumping ship to any team for any reason-visit or not. haha
Cat, I am not challenging you. I genuinely do not understand what you're saying. Do you think I'm jumping ship from the Sabres!? NFW! I wear my Sabres sweater to every game regardless of where or who is playing; regardless of the league. I took my piss-yellow sweater out of retirement for this trip, and you can see a yellow blur about 5 rows behind the net that Hossa potted his 500th into. I enjoy watching games in Chicago more than any other city. A lot of that is based on the great fans in the Windy City. But jump ship from Buffalo? Really, I'd have no idea of how to do that!
no Dan- i was kidding. no way could you leave the Sabres for the Hawks. That would be like me leaving the Flyers for the Pens or Rangers. Ugh. I've been to the United Center, so fan or not, you can't pass up a chance to go. Hope you had a great time. Hell, you saw 11 goals, which is nice. i wish i knew now that was you in the yellow sweater. that took guts wearing that. haha.
Dan-did you hit up division and rush street afterwards? im sure you had a nice meal downtown as there are so many places to go. My older brother is there right now for a Medical Conference.
